Dance monkey, dance

The captain on the last flight I took told all the passengers that he hopes he'll see us all again on our next ATA vacation.\nI didn't even know what color pants he was wearing.\nWhen did he see me, and why does he want to see me again? I wasn't particularly charming. I didn't compliment the smoothness of the craft's movements, or the way he used but a word to charm me out of my cooped-up rage after the 30 minute taxi-delay.\nPersonally, I think he was too forgiving.\nIn these days of flight anxiety, I want a captain who makes his judgments about the passengers onboard only after thorough investigation and contemplation.\nIf he hopes to see us again -- the passengers who don't know his name, those who threw up on the drink cart, made love in the restroom clearly built for one, and those who kept their CD players on during takeoff; how would he also hope to see a violent man whose intentions would be far worse than disobeying the fasten seatbelt sign?\nThe captain knew nothing of the character of his human cargo that evening. \nWhen we took off, I had my seatback reclined -- all the way.\nNow, some may scoff at my reservations about the captain's parting words that stated he'd hope to meet "us" on another flight. \n"He was following procedure, he didn't mean it," they might say.\nWell, why say it then?\nSurely, my fellow passengers and I didn't expect to become such good friends with the captain -- we didn't expect him to look forward to our next flight. We didn't care. Our only expectation was for him to put the plane down safely in the same city as our luggage.\nHis sincerity was manufactured. A corporate mandate of synthetic courtesy.\nThe illusion of friendliness that professional announcement laborers are forced to doll out to their consumers is not productive. It doesn't sell me tickets or bring me cheer.\nWatching some unfortunate, acne laden high school student at McDonald's tell me that fries are 99 cents, but "smiles are free," doesn't make me crave the Super Size. Listening to jaded theatre employees mumble "enjoy your show" with that true overflow of emotion doesn't make me feel as if I had a buddy there behind the counter who really cares. \nThey look trapped, their eyes sad and lifeless. I get the same feeling listening to them as I do visiting the pet store in the mall and seeing all those cute puppies bouncing off their plastic cubbyholes, waiting only for the sale which will bring them freedom.\nAnd as for flair. Don't even get me started.\nThe truth is, it's their job to say these things. That's the only reason why they do it. However, contrary to what the public might think, I believe the true rationale may not simply be to turn another buck. \nWhat it accomplishes seems to run far deeper. It subtly solidifies the reality of all our situations, consumer and laborer alike. \nThere is a truth behind what the captain says when he wishes to "see us again," but it isn't anything found in the words themselves. Only by looking between the "It's been a pleasure serving you's" and the "Thank you for choosing's" can we see what's really being said to us all. \n"Hey. We own you remember? So dance monkey, dance"